LAHORE (Sunday, May 04): Punjab University vice-chancellor, acting vice-chancellor, syndicate members and teachers on Sunday expressed grief and sorrow over the death of Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Iqbal, former chief justice and PU Senor Member Syndicate and Board of Selection, and emeritus professor of PU College of Law. Justice (r) Sardar. Mr Sardar died in a hospital in Lahore on Sunday.

PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, who is in Washington DC, US to attend a conference, sent a condolence a message on the sad demise of Justice (r) Sardar Iqbal. He lauded his 38-year services for PU as senior member of syndicate and selection board, visiting professor and the member of Boad of Studies of PU Law College. In a telephonic message, PU VC said Mr Sardar was a great asset and continuous source of guidance for PU administration and faculty.

PU acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Azhar Ikram lauded Justice (r) Sardar Iqbal’s four-decade-long services for the Punjab University. He said that besides being an emeritus professor at PU Law College Sardar had been performing important responsibilities in the PU Selection Boad and Syndicate. “He continued to work for the betterment of PU till his death. Just a weak before his death he attended PU selection board’s meeting. Justice (r) Sardar always believed in hard work and he always provided excellent legal opinion regarding university’s matters. He was very visionary and he always helped PU in the dealing of administrative and financial issues,” the acting VC said.

Meanwhile, PU Syndicate members Prof Dr Haris Rashid, Mumtaz Ahmad, Dr Zaid, Ziaullah Shah and others also expressed deep sorrow on the death of Justice (r) Sardar Iqbal. They said that Sardar served as the longest-period syndic of the Punjab University and his services for PU could never be forgotten. Sardar contributed a lot to guide PU administration and its supreme body Syndicate to streamline academic and financial affairs according to university calendar and law.

Sardar had an emotional attachment with PU and present all senior teachers and professors has been elevated by Mr Sardar as he was the most senior member of PU selection board. All vice-chancellors always used to take his legal opinion to resolve deferent types of issues related to Punjab University affairs. Obituary: Chief Justice (Retd) Sardar Muhammad Iqbal, the first Ombudsman of Pakistan, was born in Kashmir. He obtained his law degree from the Punjab University, establishing a record in academic excellence which remains unbeaten. Soon afterwards he enrolled as an advocate with the Lahore High Court and quickly rose to prominence in the profession. He was elected a member of the Pakistan Bar Council in 1958. At the age of 40 he was appointed a permanent Judge of the West Pakistan High Court. He also served as a member of the Pakistan Election Commission from 1964 to 1967. In October 1972, Justice Iqbal was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, in which capacity he also acted as Governor of Punjab on a number of occasions. On amendment of the Pakistan Constitution in 1976, making the post of Chief Justice a tenure post for four years, he took a stand on principle and opted to retire instead of continuing as the senior-most judge. Apart from lawyer and High Court Judge, Justice Iqbal has been a popular teacher. Starting in 1948 as part-time Lecturer in the University Law College, Lahore. He became Associate Professor in 1957, continuing as such till his elevation to the Bench in 1962.

In recognition of his services and merit as a teacher of law, the Punjab University appointed him Professor Emeritus in Law in 1985. Justice Iqbal represented Pakistan at the World Association of Judges in Bangkok in 1969 and again in Ivory Coast in 1973, where he was elected to its three committees. He attended the Round Table Conference of the Association in Venice in 1970 and was elected to its Executive Committee in its meeting in Belgrade in 1972. Later, he participated in the International Conference on Islam at Lake Como, Italy, in 1975; and the same year he was elected President of the World Association of Judges (Appellate Court Division) in Washington. Justice Iqbal has been associated with either the Senate or Syndicate of almost every university in Punjab, as well as their Selection Boards. The National College of Arts at Lahore has received his particular attention, with in respect of its administration and its Selection Board.

He was also Chairman of a number of prestigious private hospitals and institutions of public welfare. His appointment as Ombudsman was announced by the President of Pakistan in January 1983, and was sworn in by him on 8th August of that year.